Rep. McKeon Drops Proposal to Penalize Colleges Over Tuition Hikes

March 3, 2004 4:16 PM

Citing recent voluntary tuition curbs implemented by a number of colleges and universities Rep. Howard P. “Buck” McKeon (R-CA) today announced his intention to drop a controversial tuition price control provision from his college affordability legislation.

"I am delighted that my bill successfully sent a strong message to colleges and universities that more must be done to reign in the cost of tuition and fees," McKeon said in a prepared statement. "Thanks to the debate this proposal has sparked, more and more institutions today are announcing voluntary steps to avoid excessive tuition hikes that hurt parents and students."

Rep. McKeon's bill, "Affordability in Higher Education Act” (H.R. 3311), seeks to make information about cost increases more available to parents and students, and to hold colleges accountable for their cost increases. When first proposed, the bill contained a price control provision that would withhold federal student aid from colleges that repeatedly increased their tuition above the Consumer Price Index.

Rep. McKeon’s proposal quickly became a lightning rod for criticism from colleges and universities as well as higher education associations. Few members of Congress from either party endorsed the provision and the Bush administration distanced itself from the scheme.

“We’re pleased that the voluntary steps our institutions are taking to ease the cost of college have prompted Chairman McKeon to modify his legislation,” said ACE President David Ward. “The change addresses what had become a major concern in the proposed legislation and will enable Congress and the higher education community to focus our energies on the student aid programs.”

The House Committee on Education & the Workforce is expected to take up the bill soon as part of comprehensive legislation to reauthorize the remaining portions of the Higher Education Act.

Additional coverage is available on The Chronicle of Higher Education web site. Read “Rep. McKeon Is Expected to Drop Effort to Penalize Colleges That Raise Tuition Too Much”.